YAUSUBETSU MANEUVER AREA, Japan -- More than 400 Marines from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, arrived in Yausubetsu for an artillery live-fire sustainment training exercise May 19.
The purpose of the training is to maintain operational readiness, according to Lt. Col. Sean Wester, commanding officer of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines. Yausubetsu is one of five training areas where artillery Marines can train to sustain proficiency in the field of artillery should contingencies require their effective response.
The battalion will participate in the training with 12 M777 155 mm howitzers as well as training with small arms. They will conduct 10 days of live-fire training.
“Because we’re in Japan, artillery relocation training is the only time some units are able to conduct live-fire artillery training,” said 1st Lt. Anthony Schmit, fire direction officer, 3rd Bn., 12th Marines.
Artillery relocation training takes months of advance planning in concert with the Government of Japan. The process includes the selection of the five sites, setting the exercise dates and live- fire windows, as well as the embarkation and deployment of equipment and personnel.
“Relocation exercises provide great training opportunities along with complex challenges in planning and execution. Many months of coordination with the GoJ and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force go into the 10 days of live fire for every relocation shoot. At the end of this exercise, our Marines get great training in an environment completely unique to our battalion,” said 1st Lt. Michael Gonzalez, operations officer, 3rd Bn., 12th Marines.
The Marines will have the opportunity to train with new equipment, such as the T2E Theodolite, a surveying instrument for measuring both horizontal and vertical angles, which assists in emplacing gun positions.
“Yausubetsu offers a great chance to polish the skills for my job and also learn new ones,” said Lance Cpl. Larry Keyes, a fire direction controlman with the battalion.
“I’m really happy I got the chance to come here.”
The Marines have also planned to conduct a community relations project while they’re here to assist the local community. The battalion has established a precedence of contributing and giving back to the community that has hosted this training for more than 12 years.